Furnace structure



April 24, 1934. E. L. WATSON 1,955,990

FURNACE- STRUCTURE {filed July 11, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 24, 1934. I E. WATSON 1,955,990

FURNACE ST'RUCTURE Filed July 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .r 2 g/flz 1 I,

Patented Apr. 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates; generally to warm air furnaces of the type illustrated in my Patent No. 1,844,453, and refers more particularly to the combustion chambers thereof.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a furnace wherein the combustion chamber has two sections of steel separately formed and arranged in superposed relation whereby the upper section supporting and encircled by a radiator may be adjusted relative to the lower section to permit one of the outlets of the radiator to be positioned in line with the chimney.

Another object is to provide a combination chamber wherein the walls of the lower section are protected by fire brick and are thinner than the unprotected walls of the upper section.

A further object is to provide a detachable or adjustable connection between the sections which will permit further adjustment of the upper section and enable the sections to be taken apart for repairs, replacement, etc.

A further object is to provide a combination chamber wherein a ring, preferably of the same material as the sections, is secured preferably by welding to the lower section at the upper edge thereof and has a groove or recess therein that receives and forms a seat for the lower edge of the upper section. 1

A further object is to provide a ring of the type mentioned that stifiens and materially reinforces the structure and that effectively prevents the parts from warping and burning out.

A further object is to provide a ring wherein one wall of the recess or groove is beveled or tapered so that it forms a pilot or guide for the lower edge of the upper section and causes the joint between said sections to be tightened as the upper section is drawn down in place.

A further object is to provide a structure wherein means secured to and suspended from the upper section is engageable with the ring aforesaid ,fixed to the lower section to cause the upper section to be drawn down and securely held in place upon the lower section.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a furnace embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the radiator and upper section of the combustion chamber;

Figure 3 is a detail view of the intermediate ring;

. combustion chamber and radiator. '60

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure Referring now to the drawings, A is the ash pit; B are the grates; C is the combustion chamber; D is the fire brick lining for the combustion chamber; E is a fuel feed chute to the combustion chamber; F is a door for said chute; G is the radiator; and H is the outer casing or shell of a furnace embodying my invention. As shown, the combustion chamber C has two sections 1 and 2 respectively and is formed of steel. Preferably the walls of the lower section 1 are 9;" thick and terminate just above the lining D, while the ties as the sections 1 and 2 respectively. Preferably the ring 4 is forged and is welded to the lower section 1. Bolts 5 extend downwardly .from the bases 6 of L-shaped brackets 7 upon the upper section 2 and have inwardly extending portions 8 engageable with the lower side of the ring 4 to draw the upper section 2 downwardly and to hold it in place in the recess 3. In this connection it will be noted that the inner wall 9 of the recess 3 is beveled or tapered so as to pilot or guide the lower edges of the upper section 2 when it is drawn downwardly by the bolts 5. Preferably the upper section 2 of the combustion chamber is dome-shaped and is provided at diametrically opposite points thereof with outlet openings -10 and 11 respectively for products of combustion.

' The radiator G encircles this section 2 and is liketively short tubes 18 and 19 respectively project outwardly from the openings 12 and 15 respectively and constitute smoke outlet and clean-out openings respectively. In this connection it will be noted that the construction is such that the tubes 18 and 19-may be interchangeably used.

For example, when low grade soft coal or-oil is used as fuel inthe furnace the section 2 is turned on the ring 4 relative to section 1 so that the tube 18 maybe the smoke outlet, but when high grade coal is used as fuel then the section 2 is turned on the ring4 so that the tube 19 may be the smoke outlet. Thus in addition to the initial adjustmentof the section-2toalign one. of the radiator "outlets with the chimney there may be further adjustments aside from those for repairs and/or replacements.

In the process of construction the sections 1 and 2 are formed separately. The radiator G and ring 4 are also formed separately. The ring 4 is forged to the shape shown and is then welded to the upper edge of the lower section 1. The radiator G is placed about the upper section 2 and the nipples 16 and 17 are connected thereto as in my Patent No. 1,844,453. After a section of the nipple 1'7 has been adjusted so that the radiator is in the proper position relative to the section 2 of the combustion chamber the nipples 16 and 1'? are then welded to the radiator and section. The section 2 with the radiator mounted thereon is then placed above the lower section 1 so that the lower edges of the upper section will be received in the recess 3 in the ring 4 whereupon the upper section 2 may be turned in the recess 3 relative to the lower section to align the proper outlet 18 or 19 in the radiator with the chimney (not shown). When the desired adjustment has been made the inwardly extending portions 8 of the bolts are engaged with the lower faces of the ring 4 and the nuts 20 are tightened so that the upper section 2 will be drawn downwardly over the beveled wall 9 of the recess and securely held in adjusted position. In this connection it will be noted that the bolts 5 are carried by the upper section 2 and that the inwardly extending portions 8 of such bolts are engageable with the underside of ring 4 at any point thereof.

Thus from the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided an extremely eflicient structure which permits the use of two different thicknesses of steel and which obviates entirely the use of cement, gaskets and packing. The sectional combustion chamber construction not only provides for adjustment of one section so that the proper outlet of the radiator will be aligned with the chimney but also simplifies and renders more efficient the manufacture and handling of the parts. Moreover, if it is desired to repair or replace the upper section 2 it is not necessary to take out the entire combustion chamber as heretofore. Therefore repairs may now be made for considerably less.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire'to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to whendesired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as myinvention is:

1. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections arranged one above the other, the lower section being stationary and having a. fuel feed opening, the upper section being mounted to turn freely on the lower section about a substantially vertical axis and provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with outlet openings for products of combustion, a radiator for receiving products of combustion from the outlet openings in the upper section encircling and carried by the said upper section and provided substantially at diametrically opposite points thereof with outlet openings for products of combustion, said last mentioned openings being alternately usable as a smoke outlet and as a clean-outrespectively, and adapted when the upper section is turned relative to the lower section to be alternately aligned with an adjacent smoke pipe or chimney, and means for securing the upper section to the lower section including means carried by and movable with the upper section during'turning movement thereof, said securing means being always wholly accessible from the outside of the combustion chamber, the turning movement of the upper section being accomplished without disturbing the lower section whereby the feed opening in the lower section may remain in a predetermined position while one of the openings aforesaid in the radiator carried by the upper section is aligned with the smoke pipe.

2. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections arranged one above the other, the lower section being stationary and having a fuel feed opening, the upper section being mounted to turn freely on the lower section about a substantially vertical axis and provided with an outlet opening for products of combustion, a radiator for receiving products of combustion from the outlet opening just mentioned carried by the upper section and provided with an outlet opening for products of combustion, said last mentioned opening being adapted when the upper section is turned relative to the lower section to be aligned with an adjacent smoke pipe or chimney, and means for securing the upper section to the lower section including means carried by and movable with the upper section during turning movement thereof, said securing means being always wholly accessible from the outside of the combustion chamber, the turning movement of the upper section being accomplished without disturbing the lower section whereby the feed opening in the lower section may remain in a predetermined position while the opening aforesaid in the radiator carried by the upper section is aligned with the smoke pipe.

3. Ina furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections of substantially circular cross section arranged one above the other, the lower section being stationary and having a fuel feed opening,

the upper section 'being freely rotatable on the lower section about a substantially vertical axis and provided with an outlet opening for products of combustion, a radiator for receiving products of combustion from the outlet opening in the upper section carried -by the said upper section and provided with an outlet opening for the products of combustion, said last mentioned opening being adapted when the upper section is turned relative to the lower section to be aligned with an adjacent smoke pipe or chimney, and means for securing the upper section to the lower section including means carried by and movable with the upper section during turning movement thereof, said securing means being always accessible from the outside of the combustion chamber, the turning movement of the upper section being accomplished without disturbing the lower section whereby the feed opening in the lower section may remain in a predetermined position while the opening in the radiator carried by the upper section is aligned with the smoke pipe.

4. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections arranged one above the other, the

lower section being stationary and having a fuel feed opening, the upper section being freely rotatable relative to the lower section about a substantially vertical axis and provided at substantially diametrically opposed points thereof with outlet openings for products of combustion, a ring between the adjacent edges of the upper and lower sections, said ring beingrigid with the ,adjacent edge of one ofsaid sections and'having a channel receiving and'slidably engagingthe: ad-

jacent edgeof the other section, a radiator for receiving products of combustion from the outlet openings in the upper section encircling and carried by the upper section and provided at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof with outlet openings for products of combustion, said last mentioned openings being alternately usable as a smoke outlet and as a clean-out opening respectively, and adapted'when the upper section is turned relative to the lower section to be alternately aligned with an adjacent smoke pipe or chimney, fastening means carried by the upper section and engageable with said ring for detachably holding the upper section in adjusted position relative to the lower section, the rotation of the upper section being accomplished while both sections are in engagement with the ring without disturbing the lower section whereby the feed opening in the lower section may remainin a predetermined position while one of the openings aforesaid in, the radiator carried by the upper section is aligned with the smoke pipe, said rotation of the upper section being eifected while the fastening means aforesaid are carried by the upper section and are in position to engage the ring.

5. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections arranged one above the other, the lower section being stationary and having a fuel feed opening, the upper section being freely .rotatable relative to the lower section about a substantially vertical axis and provided with an 'outlet opening for products of combustion, a ring from the outlet opening in the upper section carried by the upper section and provided with an outlet opening for products of combustion, said last mentioned opening being adapted when the upper section is rotated relative to the lower section to be aligned with an adjacent smoke pipe or chimney, and means for securing the upper sec-,

tion to the lower section, including'means movable with the upper section during rotation thereof and engageable with said ring, the rotation of the upper section being accomplished while the upper section is in engagement with the ring without disturbing the lower section whereby the feed opening in the lower section may remain in a predetermined position while the opening in the radiator carried by the upper section is aligned with the smoke pipe.

6. In a furnace, a combustion chamber having two sections arranged one above the other, the lower section being stationary and having a fuel feed opening, the upper section being freely rotatable relative to the lower section about a substantially vertical axis, a ring between the adjacent edges of the upper and lower sections, said ring being welded to the upper edge of the lower section and having an upwardly opening channel receiving and slidably engaging the lower edge of the upper section, the channel and said ring being machined to provide a smooth engagement with and permit continuous and uninterrupted turning movement of the upper section relative to the lower section, a radiator for receiving products of combustion from the upper section supported by and movable as a unit with said upper the upper section during rotation thereof and constantly in position during rotation of the upper section for engagement with said ring, the rotation of the upper section being accomplished while the upper section is in engagement with the ring without disturbing the lower section whereby the said opening in the lower section may remain in a predetermined position while the opening in the radiator carried by the upper section may be aligned with the smoke pipe.

7, In a furnace, a combustionchamber having two sections arranged one above the other and a ring between the adjacent edges of said sections, the upper section being movable vertically relative to and rotatable on said ring, said ring being rigidly secured to the upper edge of the lower section and forming a bearing for the lower edge of the upper section, said ring overhanging the walls of the lower section, and means wholly accessible from the outside of the combustion chamber for securing the upper section to the lower section, including adjustable means carried by and rotatable with the upper section and engagepotsection at the upper edges thereof and overhanging the outer walls of said fire pot section, and means for fastening the dome section to the fire pot section including means carried by the dome section and engaging the overhanging portion of the ring, said dome section and fastening means as a unit being freely rotatable on the ring about a substantially vertical axis relative to the fire pot section, said fastening means being engageable with the ring at any desired point of its periphery upon rotation of the dome section.

- 9. In a furnace, a built-up combustion chamber including a fire pot section, a dome section, and an intermediate ring, the fire pot section and ring being welded togethen'and means for fastening the dome section to the fire pot section including means carried by the dome section and movable circumferentially of said ring, the construction and y} arrangement of the fastening means and ring being such that the dome section may be rotated'while the fastening means aforesaid is carried thereby, said dome section and fastening means as a unit being freely rotatable on the ring about a substantially vertical axis relative to the fire pot section, said fastening means being engageable with the ring at any desired point of its periphery upon rotation of the dome section and always wholly accessible from the exterior of the combustion chamber.

EARNEST L. WATSON. 

